Photographic print washer



June 8, 1943. R. L. SWARTZ PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT WASHER Filed March 1; 19412 SXieets-Sheet 1 anemic/1W June 8, 1943. R. L. SWARTZ I PHOTOGRAPHICPRINT WASHER Filed March 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0-0 0 o o o-rmq lo'ooo'oo 1 1 21 3mm [Ziafiq Swariz 5536 67 ly-J Patented June 8, 1943PHOTOGRAPHEC PRWT WASHER Richey L. Swartz, Canton, Ohio, assignor ofonehalf to Kenneth B. Cope, Canton, Ohio Application March 1, 1941,Serial No. 381,268

Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus for washing or rinsing photographicprints and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus through whichwater is continuously passed for washing or rinsing the prints and inwhich the prints are continuously moved through the water.

Another object is the provision of a novel nozzle arrangement forcontinuously rotating the tray in which the prints are being washed,causin the prints to continuously float around in the water in thistray.

A further object is the provision of a novel center post arrangementupon which the perforate print washing tray rotates.

The above objects together with other which will be apparent from thedrawings and following description or which may be later referred to maybe attained by constructing the improved print washing device in themanner illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of a print washing apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, an enlarged top plan view of the improved print washingapparatus;

Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view taken as on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary detail sectional view taken as on the line 4-4,Fig. 2, showing the manner in which the radial water pipes are supportedabove the print washing tray;

Fig. 5, a detail sectional view of the siphon taken as on the line 55,Fig. 2;

Fig. 6, an enlarged vertical sectional view of the center post uponwhich the perforate tray is rotatably mounted showing adjacent portionsof the perforate tray and the outer housing of the apparatus;

The upper end of the center post [2 has a cup it formed therein toreceive the ball I1 upon which the perforate tray I8 is 'rotatablymounted, as will be later described.

The bottom wall ll of the outer housing or tub may, if desired, bereinforced and strengthened by means of the central disk I9 having itscentral portion resting upon the top of the flanged plate I3 andprovided with a central opening to receive the center post l2, theperipheral portion of the disk l9 being spot welded or otherwiseconnected to the bottom wall H, at a point near the periphery thereof,as shown at 2 I.

The side wall 22 of the rotatable 'tray [8 may be provided with theinternal annular corrugations 23 as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, and isprovided throughout practically its entire area with a greatmultiplicity of apertures 24, the bottom wall of said tray being alsoprovided throughout its area with a'multiplicity of similar aperturesZ5.

The-intemal corrugations or ribs 23 are provided in the perforate trayfor the purpose of preventing the prints being washedfrom laying againstthe inner wall of the perforate tray and adhering thereto.

These ribs will hold the prints slightly away from the wall of the traypermitting water to 7 come through the perforations 24 and wash theprints loose from the tray.

The bottom wall 25 of the rotatable tray 58 has a central aperture 21fitting loosely around the center post l2 and the flanged plate 28 isconnected to the central portion of this bottom wall as by the rivets29.

A central tapped bore 30 is provided in the flanged plate 28 forreceiving the threaded lower Fig. '7, an enlarged sectional view throughone of the spray nozzles or heads; and

Fig. 8, a section taken as on the line 88, Fig. '1. Similar numeralsrefer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The improved print washing apparatus is mounted within an outer housingor tub II) which may be of substantially cylindric form and providedwith the fiat bottom I I adapted to rest upon a table, work bench, orother horizontal support.

A center post 52 is concentrically mounted upon the flat bottom wall I Iof the outer housing or tub as by means of the flanged plate 13 attachedto the bottom wall I I by any suitable and well-known means and providedwith the central tapped bore H which receives the screw threaded lowerend l5 of the center post.

end 3! of the tube 32 which loosely surrounds the center post 12, theupper end of said tube being threaded as at 33 and inserted into thethreaded lower portion of the cap 34 which rests upon the ball I! sothat the perforate tray I8 is rotatably supported upon said ball.

Water is conveyed to the apparatus through the inlet pipe 35 havingv ahose coupling 36 at its outer end to which a hose,as indicated at 31,may be connected for supplying water, from a faucetor other source ofsupply.

The inner end of the pipe 35 may be connected to a pipe cross 38 atsubstantially the center of the device, a pipe or rod 39 being connectedto said pipe cross diametrically opposite to the pipe 35 and provided atits outer end with an elbow 40 to which is connectedthe depending leg 4!slotted at its lower end as at 42 to straddle the rim bead 43 of theouter housing or tub.

A plug 44 isprovided for preventing water from being discharged from thepipe 99.

A slotted leg 4| may be connected to the outer end of the inlet pipe 35as by the T-coupling 45 for supporting the pipe assembly above the topof the tub and perforate tray'.

The spray nozzle pipes 48 are connected to the pipe cross 38 atdiametrically opposite sides thereof and preferably at right angles tothe inlet pipe 35 and each of these pipes has connected thereto ar-coupling 41 to which may be attached an elbow 48 carrying the spraynozzle or head 49. e

- Each of these spray nozzles may be of the form shown in thedrawingshaving the reduced interiorly threaded neck 50 for connection tothe elbow and the flared or fan shaped nozzle portion 5| provided withthe downwardly-inclined apertures 52 at its outer edge.

A depending slotted leg 4| may be connected to the outer end of eachpipe 46 as by an elbow 40' for supporting the'same above the'tub. andthese pipes may be plugged in the manner shown in detail in Fig. 4,whereby water entering the piping from the hose 9'! will be dischargedonly through the apertures 52 of thefspray nozzles'49.

As shown in the drawings, the nozzles 49 are preferably adjusted so asto be inclined slightly downward toward the tray IS, the front edges ofmunicating with the interior of the tub through an opening 58 near thebottom thereof. I

The drain pipe 59 is located through the bottom wall of the compartment51 and has a siphon connected thereto in the form of the goose-neck pipe60 which extends from the drain pipe 59 upward to a point near the topof the compartment and terminates in the open end The prints to bewashed are placed in the tray l8 and will continuously float around inthe same.

these nozzles being located substantially radially of the tray and thenozzles being disposed on opposite sides of the pipes 45 as bestshown-in Figs.

1 and 2 whereby the force of the sprays of water discharged therefromwill cause the tray l8 to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed 1Fig 2. a a

The T-couplings 41 are adjustabiy mounted upon the pipes 46 so as to berotated around the pipes to any desired position and the elbows 48 areadjustably connected to the T-couplings so as to be swung around to anydesired position relative thereto, and the spray nozzles 49 areadjustably mounted upon the elbows so as to be' tilted to any desiredangle.

This provides for complete adjustment of the spray nozzles in anydirection and at any angle so as to easily and quickly accommodate thedevice to different conditions or weights of prints being washed.

For the purpose of preventing the tray from being rotated too rapidlybrake means may be provided in the form of a leaf spring 53 connected tothe inner wall of the tub ID as by a rivet 54 or the like, the freecurved end 55 of the spring frictionally bearing upon the periphery ofthe tray III, as shown in Fig. 2.

Tension upon the spring 59 may be regulated as by an adjusting. screw56.

In operation it is desirable that the tray l9 tinuously remove anychemicals which are washed from the printsand admitfresh water thereto,a siphon is provided which is shown in detail in Fig. 5. e

For this purpose a discharge-compartment 51 7 As the water level in thedevice reaches the top ofthe goose-neck pipe 60, this pipe will act as asiphon discharging the water from the device until the water levelreaches the lower open end it. of the siphon pipe when the suction willbe,

broken and the tray will again begin to fill with water.

This siphoning action will be repeated periodi- .cally throughout theoperation of the apparatus removing the chemically polluted water fromtime to time and admitting fresh water for washing the prints.

It will be seen that the entire spray pipe assemblyor spider isremovabiy mounted uponthe tub l0, and may be removed therefrom as a unitwithout the necessity of disconnecting the pipe assembly from the watersupply.

The perforate tray I8 may then be lifted out of the tub'permittingcleaning of the interiortray if necessary.

I claim: I 1

1. Print washing apparatus including a tub, a center post in the tubextending to a point near the top of the tub, a cup at the top of thecenter post, a ball in said cup, a tray comprising perforate bottom andside walls rotatable in said tub and having a center opening receivingsaid center post, a center tube fixed to the perforate tray andsurrounding the center post, the upper end of the center tube beingclosed and supported upon said ball, a water supply pipe locatedradially above the tub and tray and extending to a point above thecenter of the tray, a spray nozzle pipe located diametrically above thetub and tray and connected at its center to the inner end of the watersupply pipe, oppositely disposed, forwardly flared, downwardly inclinedspray nozzles depending from said spray nozzle pipe on each side of thecenter thereof for delivering water tangentially into the tray forwhirling the of the tub and the exterior of the perforate ,water thereinand rotating the tray, a radially disposed rod connected to and alinedwith the water supply pipe, and dependinglegs upon the water supplypipe, spray nozzle pipe and rod and spaced points.

having forked lower ends for detachable engagement with the rim of thetub at four equally 2. Print washing rate bottom and side wallsrotatable in said tub andhaving a center opening receiving said centermay be formed upon one side of the tub, comand. surrounding the centerpost, the upper end apparatus including a tub,.a

center post in the tub extending to a point near the top of the tub, 'acup at the top of" the center post, a ball in said clip, a traycomprising perfov dially above the tub and tray and extending to a pointabove the center of the tray, a spray nozzle pipe located diametricallyabove the tub and tray and connected at its center to the inner end ofthe water supply pipe, oppositely disposed, forwardly flared, downwardlyinclined spray nozzles depending from said spray nozzle pipe on eachside of the center thereof for delivering water tangentially into thetray for whirling the water therein and rotating the tray, a radiallydisposed rod connected to and alined with the water supply pipe, anddepending legs upon the water supply pipe, spray nozzle pipe and rod andhaving forked lower ends for detachable engagement with the rim of thetub at four equally spaced points, and spring brake means in the tub inconstant frictional contact with the tray for controlling the speed ofrotation of the tray.

3. Print washing apparatus including a tub, a center post in the tubextending to a point near the top of the tub, a cup at the top of thecenter post, a ball in said cup, a tray comprising perforate bottom andside walls rotatable in said tub and having a center opening receivingsaid center post, a center tube fixed to the perforate tray andsurrounding the center post, the upper end of the center tube beingclosed and supDQrted 7 upon said ball, a water supply pipe locatedradially above the tub and tray and extending to a point above thecenter of the tray, a spray nozzle pipe located diametrically above thetub and tray and connected at its center to the inner end of the watersupply pipe, oppositely disposed, forwardly flared, downwardly inclinedspray nozzlesdepending from said spray nozzle pipe on each side of thecenter thereof for delivering water tangentially into the tray forwhirling the water therein. and rotating the tray, a radially disposedrod connected to and alined with the water supply pipe, and dependinglegs upon the water supply pipe, spray nozzle pipe and rod and havingforked lower ends for detachable engagement with the rim of the tub atfour equally spaced points, and spring brake means in the tub inconstant frictional contact with the tray for controlling the speed ofrotation of the tray, and screw means for regulating the tension of thebrake means.

4. Print washing apparatus including a tub, a center post in the tubextending to a point near the top oi! the tub, a cup at the top of thecenter post, a ball in said cup, 9. tray comprising perforate bottom andside walls rotatable in said center post, a center tube fixed to theperforate tray and surrounding the center post, the upper end of thecenter tube being closed and supported upon said ball, a water supplypipe located radially above the tub and tray and extending to a pointabove the center of the tray, a spray nozzle pipe located diametricallyabove the tub and tray and connected at its center to the inner end ofthe water supply pipe, oppositely disposed, forwardly flared, downwardlyinclined spray nozzles depending from said spray nozzle pipe on eachside of the center thereof for delivering water tangentially into thetray for whirling the water therein and rotating thetray, a ,radiallydisposed rod connected to and alined with the water supply pipe, anddependinglegs upon the water supply pipe, spray nozzle pipe and rod andhaving forked lower ends for detachable engagement with the rim of thetub at four equally spaced points, and means for adjusting said spraynozzles around the axis of the spray nozzle pipe and upon an axis radialtothe spray nozzle pipe.

5. Print washing apparatus including a tub, a center post in the tubextending to a point near the top of the tub, a cup at the top of thecenter post, a ball in said cup, a tray comprising perforate bottom andside walls rotatable in said tub and having a center opening receivingsaid center post, a center tube fixed to the perforate tray andsurrounding the center post, the upper end of the center tube beingclosed and supported upon said ball, a water supply pipe locatedradially above the tub and tray and extending to a point above thecenter of the tray, a spray nozzle pipe located diametrically above thetub and tray and connected at its center to the inner end of the watersupply pipe, oppositely disposed, forwardly flared, downwardly inclinedspray nozzles depending from said spray nozzle pipe on each side of thecenter thereof for delivering water tangentially into the tray forwhirling the water therein and rotating the tray, a radially disposedrod connected to and alined with the water supply pipe, and dependinglegs upon the water sup- 'ply pipe, spray nozzle pipe and rod and havingforked lower ends for detachable engagement with the rim of the tub atfour equally spaced points, and means for adjusting said spray nozzlesaround the axis of the spray nozzle pipe and upon an axis radial tothespray nozzle pipe, and for rotating each spray nozzle own axis.v

' RICHEY L. SWARTZ.

tub and having a center opening receiving said around its

